2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $48-$75k

With all of the options students have for higher education today, it can be tough to choose which direction to take. Our mission at College Factual is to arm you with as much information as we can to help you make that decision. Our “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking is one tool we have developed to help in this regard.

In 2019-2020, 6,820 people earned their degree in area studies, making the major the 106th most popular in the United States. In 2017-2018, area studies graduates who were awarded their degree in 2015-2017, earned an average of $33,734 and had an average of $23,024 in loans still to pay off.

Across California, there were 1,008 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $30,743 and $17,480 respectively. At the doctor’s degree level specifically, there were 11 area studies graduates with average earnings and debt of $71,544 and $133,402 respectively.

This year’s “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $48-$75k” ranking analyzed 3 colleges that offered a degree in area studies. Not only do the schools that top this list have excellent area studies programs, but they also cost less that schools of similar quality.

To come up with these rankings, we looked at factors such as the cost to attend the school after aid is awarded and overall quality of the area studies program at the school. See our ranking methodology to learn more.

One Size Does Not Fit All

The area studies school you choose to invest your time and money in matters. To help you make the decision that is right for you, we’ve developed a number of major-specific rankings, including this list of “Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $48-$75k”.

One of our other unique offerings is College Combat. This tool lets you build your own customized comparisons utilizing the factors that are most important to you. We encourage you to try it out and pit your favorite colleges and universities head to head! If you don’t have time right now, you can bookmark it for later.

Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $48-$75k

The following schools top our list of the Best Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $48-$75k.

Top 3 Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $48-$75k) in California

#1

Stanford University

Stanford, California

#1 in overall quality

$55,011 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend Stanford University. It ranked #1 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. This fairly large school is located in Stanford, California, and it awarded 2 doctorate’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

Stanford not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Area Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at Stanford are $55,011, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Area Studies at Stanford University

#2

University of California - Berkeley

Berkeley, California

#2 in overall quality

$29,347 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of California - Berkeley. It ranked #2 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. This large school is located in Berkeley, California, and it awarded 6 doctorate’s area studies degrees in 2019-2020.

In addition to being on our california doctor’s degree area studies students whose families make $48-$75k list, UC Berkeley has also earned the #2 rank in our “Best Area Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” ranking. Average graduate tuition and fees at UC Berkeley are $29,347, but you may pay more or less depending on your major.

Read full report on Area Studies at UC Berkeley

#3

University of Southern California

Los Angeles, California

#1 in overall quality

$48,715 Avg Grad Tuition & Fees

You’ll be in good company if you decide to attend University of Southern California. It ranked #3 on our 2022 Best Value Area Studies Schools for a Doctorate in California For Those Making $48-$75k list. USC is located in Los Angeles, California and, has a large student population. In 2019-2020, this school awarded 3 doctorate’s area studies degrees to qualified students.

USC not only placed well in this ranking. It is also #1 on our “Best Area Studies Doctor’s Degree Schools in California” list. Average graduate tuition and fees at USC are $48,715, but some majors have different tuition rates.

Full USC Area Studies Report

• Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $48-$75k) in the Far Western US Region
• Best Value Doctor’s Degree Colleges for Area Studies (Income $48-$75k)

Notes and References

References

• The Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), a branch of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) serves as the core of our data about colleges.
• Some other college data, including much of the graduate earnings data, comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s (College Scorecard).
• Information about the national average student loan default rate is from the U.S. Department of Education and refers to data about the 2016 borrower cohort tracking period for which the cohort default rate (CDR) was 10.1%.

Read more about our data sources and methodologies

Footnotes

• *Average salary, average net price, and average tuition and fees are for the top schools only.
• Some schools otherwise deserving of recognition may have been removed from this ranking in the event that new data identified post-publication warranted it, or at the request of the school.

Credits

• Credit for the banner image above goes to Karl Udo Gerth.

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